Wallabies v South Africa

[ozbash]

Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu and Nathan Sharpe have been named to make their returns from injury in Australia's Tri-Nations rugby opener against South Africa at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has rushed the experienced trio straight back into his starting line-up after they missed Australia's 40-10 second Test win over France in Brisbane.
Tuqiri (knee) and Palu (shoulder) were hurt during the first international against France, while a groin injury suffered at training in the lead-up rubbed out Sharpe.
All three have trained freely this week since the squad assembled in Perth.
Deans watched Palu play 50 minutes for the Manly Marlins in NSW club rugby at Manly Oval last weekend.
Tuqiri and Sharpe didn't play club rugby, but both contributed fully during the final training of last week's three-day camp in Sydney.
"They're all looking good and ready to go again," Deans said.
"We needed to be absolutely certain that they were right because the South Africans are going to be the most physical opponent we have played so far."
Sharpe's inclusion in the second row will compensate somewhat the absence of fellow lock Dan Vickerman, who has not sufficiently recovered from ankle surgery in time to make his comeback to Test rugby.
While there was no room for in-form rugby league convert Timana Tahu, the bolter on the bench is Tatafu Polota-Nau, who has won a spot after making his playing return at club level last weekend for Parramatta.
The NSW Waratahs hooker hadn't played since the Super 14 final loss to the Crusaders in May because of a hand injury.
Drew Mitchell has also earned a place on the bench following strong form for Australia A.
Flanker George Smith will clock up his 87th Test appearance after relegating Phil Waugh to the bench, making him the most-capped Wallabies forward in history.
Smith will pass World Cup-winning captain John Eales and also Joe Roff in becoming the fourth most-capped Wallaby of all-time.
Six of the squad named on Wednesday - winger Peter Hynes, inside centre Berrick Barnes, halfback Luke Burgess, lock James Horwill, Polota-Nau and reserve back Ryan Cross - will be facing South Africa for the first time.
The eight members of the 30-man squad not selected will all play for their clubs this weekend.
Wallabies: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4620544a1823.html

 

[African Monkey]

SA by 6.

 

[ozbash]

The lure of Hong Kong, an aversion to Sydney's ANZ Stadium and apathy among the All Blacks faithful are considered the prime reasons why next week's Bledisloe Cup rugby test in Sydney is nowhere near a sell-out.

For more than a decade, Sydney Bledisloe Cup tests have played before full houses, with tickets selling out within a few days of going on sale. This year, however, Australian Rugby Union officials are worried at still having about 10,000 available tickets for the July 26 trans-Tasman battle.
This has prompted concerns the rugby support base in Sydney is continuing to diminish, especially as crowds for test matches at ANZ Stadium have dropped considerably over the past five years.
The ARU believed this year's Bledisloe Cup fixture would arrest that slide, and never thought it would still be desperately trying to sell tickets this close to the biggest international to be played in Australia this year.
ARU chief executive John O'Neill yesterday said there were many factors, with one of the most significant being that New Zealanders had shown only scant interest in the Sydney test. Between 3000 and 6000 tickets are allocated to New Zealand tour groups for Sydney Tests, and they are usually "snaffled up" immediately. However, this year, the majority of the briefs have been sent back to the ARU.
"It is the first time the Bledisloe Cup has been in Sydney since 2005, and this is certainly a new phenomenon," he said.
"Every other Bledisloe Cup match here has been sold out well in advance.
"There are a lot of reasons. One is that the Kiwis didn't take up their full allocation, so we have a fair few tickets back from across the ditch."
O'Neill was uncertain whether the backlash in New Zealand over Robbie Deans being appointed by the Wallabies, rather than taking over from Graham Henry as the All Blacks coach, was a factor. He believes it has more to do with New Zealand fans instead saving up to go to the historic Bledisloe Cup match being played in Hong Kong in November.
"The New Zealanders are not coming over in their tour packages," O'Neill said.
"They're instead saving up for Hong Kong. So there's plenty more room for Australians to gold the stadium and watch Robbie Deans's first Bledisloe Cup appearance against his old nation. The Deans-Graham Henry rivalry is well known and is fierce. So there's a lot of reasons to get out there."
O'Neill said many Australian supporters were also conserving funds for the Hong Kong Test, to the extent they would not buy tickets for home Tests or the return game in New Zealand next month.
"We've noticed that," he said. "We don't have as many going to Auckland for the Bledisloe Cup there. And it's because the appetite is to go to Hong Kong instead. There's something obviously unique about the Hong Kong Test, and a lot of travellers have experienced the Hong Kong Sevens experience. And they're saying, 'I wouldn't mind doing that in November'.
While the ARU will not speak publicly on the issue, it is believed officials are also concerned about the Homebush Bay factor.
Many officials believe the novelty of the Olympic Stadium has worn off, and there is an increasing number of rugby followers who do not want to attend Tests at Homebush Bay because of the lengthy travel, inadequate facilities and transport and parking difficulties. There are also complaints that the ground lacks atmosphere, the spectators are too far from the action and, all in all, it is an overly expensive night.
Officials have noted that these factors, plus the rises in petrol prices and mortgage rates, have seen many rugby fans think twice about attending Sydney Tests.
The interest in the Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong is certain to prompt Australian and New Zealand officials to continue considering taking more fixtures overseas. Apart from being money-spinners for both countries, such events can also revive interest in a somewhat jaded Tri Nations format.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4620205a1823.html

 

[Alehana]

i'm ogoing to this game, dont know who to go for, absolutely hate sa after last week, always hated the wallabies, and especialy with a kiwi at the helm, gahh, hope for a draw, 3-3. hahah.

 

[ozbash]

wallys by 2

 

[kia ora storm]

Food Poisoners by 8...will be too strong in the forwards even with a 3rd choice hooker.

 

[African Monkey]

They will kill the Aussies in the forwards.

 

[Thomas]

Aussies by 12.

The Aussie forwards will surprise the jaapies and the backs will do the rest.

The Aussies showed some glimpses of a good forward pack against the French (yes, a second string side...but still...)

 

[African Monkey]

They will get slaughtered in the scrums as usual.

 

[shiznit]

Aussies by 12.

The Aussie forwards will surprise the jaapies and the backs will do the rest.

The Aussies showed some glimpses of a good forward pack against the French (yes, a second string side...but still...)

second string french side??? more like 4th string...

the top 4 sides in french rugby were missing.....

imagine an australian side without there super 14 players...

 

[kia ora storm]

Tuqiri reckons they now know how to beat the AB's...what a prize fool.

He comes out with some stupid comments and smacks of desperation.

 

[African Monkey]

Well if he does then we'll have to wait and see if it works or not.

 

[Alehana]

i reckon auz will win this

 

[African Monkey]

Good win Wallibies. I thought they won the game at the breakdown, getting a lot of turnover ball and free-kicks as a result.

 

[ozbash]

all hail King Robbie.

welcome back oz..

 

[kia ora storm]

all hail King Robbie.

welcome back oz..

King Robbie should be on the other side of the ditch...Henry is one lucky SOB.

 

[Twizzle]

I dont think the SAFFAs had a very good preparation for this game

its great that we won but I expect the next game to be much closer

 

[African Monkey]

The Aussie forwards surprised me. I thought they were gonna get found out big time but they ended up smashing SA.

 

[Micistm]

As a Robbie Fan I say well done you good things!!!! Stoked for a number of reasons, mainly as it does set up a great comp, but mainly it'll hopefully shut a few of the media cheerleaders on this side of the ditch- Grant Nesbit & co raving about the ABs, how lucky the Boks were last week when the ABs were 'just getting on top'...no credit to the Boks at all, no credit, respect or chance for the Wallabies...blah blah- And ha bloody ha. Go back to your gin boys, you've been made to look utterly stupid and biased two weeks in a row

 

[ozbash]

I dont think the SAFFAs had a very good preparation for this game

are you serious ?